Residents invited to complete parks survey to help shape future of recreation in McCandless

McCandless residents are encouraged to help shape the future of the town’s parks and recreational programming by completing a Parks Master Plan Questionnaire.

The deadline to complete the survey has been extended to March 31. The survey is available online at townofmccandless.org. Paper copies are available by request at Town Hall, 9955 Grubbs Road.

The master plan aims to help guide future decisions on park development, connectivity and community programming. The survey is where residents can help, said John Schwend, manager of McCandless.

Developing a master plan for existing and future parks is about understanding the site, the needs and desires of the community, and the capacity and capability of the town and its partners.

“The process is designed to match a program that will fit that site and building consensus among stakeholders. Good design incorporates recreation opportunities into the site in a sustainable manner while conserving and enhancing the ecological and natural resources that are present on the site,” Schwend said.

Public engagement is an important part of the process to bring consensus to the plan.

“Community engagement is essential for this to work,” he said. “We encourage you to participate through multiple engagement platforms, including a community questionnaire and public meetings.”

The town has received grant money to fund park projects in the past and will continue to do so to build on the projects this plan will reveal, said Abby Lucostic, director of parks and recreation for McCandless.

Community involvement is woven throughout the whole process. There will be public meetings, key-person interviews, along with the current community questionnaire online, she said.

“Once the plan is finalized, we’ll share the deliverables with the community,” Lucostic said.

The plan aims to balance the needs of the community with the historical fabric for spaces to be enjoyed by future generations, Schwend said.

McCandless hired Pashek+MTR, a Pittsburgh-based landscape planning firm, to develop master site plans for the five community parks and analyze existing and future connections, programs and green space initiatives.

Town officials are still in the early phases of the park plan. A meeting with a steering committee was held in January. The process will involve public engagement at pop-up events, walking tours, focus groups, stakeholder interviews and project liaison team meetings, according to McCandless’ website.

Lucostic said while many are familiar with all that nearby North Park has to offer, there are a lot of options in their own backyard. This survey will help the town understand what residents want.

“There are five parks in addition to green spaces scattered all through the town as well,” she said. “We want to know how residents use the park currently, if they know about our parks, programming and the recreation opportunities.”

Parks in the town include Potter Park on Harmony Road, Town Hall Recreation Complex and Devlin Park on Grubbs Road, Vestal Park on Vestal Park Lane, Vincentian Recreation Complex off Peebles Road and Wall Park on Sloop Road which also accesses Brandt Trail.

Advertisements about the survey will include a QR code for quick access.

Council approved the parks master site plan through Pashek+MTR during its Aug. 26 meeting in an amount not to exceed $116,390, according to online council minutes.

The town also received a state grant last year of nearly $100,000 to use toward the study, Schwend said.